Will Jordan is an author that I enjoy so I was really looking forward to reading Downfall. As usual, Jordan delivered a thoroughly enjoyable read, dragging the reader through fast action scenes.

Ryan Drake is a believable hero and the predicaments and perils faced felt realistic and were all the better for that.

You.know that you will not go wrong buying a Will Jordan book.

Downfall is a thrilling action story. The main character is looking for something. The story seemed typical and too long. It's a heavy story. Not my favorite. This story is just not my type of book. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A well written book with a detailed back story that took me a little while to catch onto since this is my first time reading this author. Drake is chasing a ghost across the world trying to clear his name. He faces his nemesis and former mentor and tries to come to grips with his past life which is slowly revealed over time as he uncovers pieces of the puzzle. Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for the ARC for my review.

Downfall by Will Jordan – 3 Stars
Publisher: Canelo
ISBN: 9781910859735

Let me begin with this is one of the most difficult books to review. Am I an action novel enthusiast? Yes. I love one that is consistently intriguing throughout, suspenseful, and cleverly combative when necessary.

First I have to give it an A+ for grammar, vocabulary, and construction. But the repetitious events, combats, and predictability ruined this book for me. How many combat situations do you need where every one is identical except for a minor change of characters? It became like visiting a dentist to have a tooth pulled and then when finished and you are paying he comes back and says he forgot to pull the other one. Now repeat this over and over until most of your teeth are gone. Then he says, “Oh, I must have been my other self to do that.” Sorry. Hope I didn’t give away the plot with that analogy, but I just can’t explain my dissatisfaction any better than that. Now, if you are into repetitive action that is no more than just another battle, somewhat like reading 20 comic books just to see if the good guy wins again, then fine. This is what you will get.

The idea of what is wrong with Ryan Drake, how he reacted and the resolution to his issues were clever. But the continuous cat-and-mouse hunt and same characters scene after scene bored me quickly, as did the unnecessary pages of Hawkin’s past.

To sum it up, I would approximate the entire story could have been told more effectively and entertainingly in just 25% of the words. Now if you add another 75% with meaningful, interesting material without repetition, then it would be a great book. Sorry. Not so as is.

This is the first book I read by this author. Maybe had I read the first 8 books in the Ryan Drake series I would have acquired something of benefit that would not have made the reading of this one so torturous.

Reviewer: Rich

Downfall, the eighth novel in the Ryan Drake thriller series, is another conspiracy-filled, all action adventure and definitely the best of the series so far. It's clear to see why Mr Jordan has become a bestseller; he certainly knows how to provide an action-packed story that barely gives you time to take a breath as it shuttles along at breakneck pace. It seems that the previous seven novels set-up the plan which then comes to fruition in Downfall. Jordan has such a great feel for penning compelling characters, so much so that you feel and can relate to both the protagonists and antagonists.

As the conclusion approached, I felt that it was going to be very emotional given the long journey to get to this point, and boy was I right; I even shed a few tears, testament to the powerful nature of the authors writing. His characters are as real and tangible as any I've come across previously; they have their flaws and failings, as we all do, but they are also tenacious and up for a fight. Each of the series instalments can easily be read as standalones, but the best experience is achieved when you read them in order from the very beginning. The fact that Ryan Drake grows and evolves through each book is what really makes him a character who reserves a special place in my heart. Smart, resourceful and tough with a penchant for Talisker whiskey, Drake is a superb and particularly memorable character.

Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.